Offal+ Offal /ˈɒfəl/, also called variety meats or organ meats, refers to the internal organs and entrails of a butchered animal.

Offaly GAA+ For more details of Offaly GAA see Offaly Senior Football Championship or Offaly Senior Hurling Championship.

Offaly Way+ The Offaly Way (Irish: Slí Uíbh Fhailí) is a long-distance trail in County Offaly, Ireland. It is 37 kilometres (23 miles) long and begins in Cadamstown and ends at Lemanaghan, on the R436 road between the towns of Clara and Ferbane.

Offaly Express+ The Offaly Express is an online newspaper and former print newspaper in Ireland that serves County Offaly.

Offaly County Council+ Offaly County Council (Irish: Comhairle Contae Uíbh Fhailí) is the authority responsible for local government in County Offaly, Ireland.

Offaly Senior Hurling Championship+ The Offaly Senior Hurling Championship is an annual Gaelic Athletic Association competition organised by Offaly GAA among the top hurling clubs in County Offaly, Ireland.

County Offaly+ County Offaly (Irish: Contae Uíbh Fhailí) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster.

'''Offal''' , also called '''variety meats''' or '''organ meats,''' refers to the internal organ+s and entrails+ of a butchered+animal+. The word does not refer to a particular list of edible organs, which varies by culture and region, but includes most internal organs excluding muscle+ and bone+. As an English mass noun+, the term "offal" has no plural form. Some cultures shy away from offal as food, while others use it as everyday food, or in delicacies+.
Certain offal dishes—including ''foie gras+'', ''pâté+'' and sweetbread+—are considered gourmet food in international cuisine. Others remain part of traditional regional cuisine and may be consumed especially in connection with holidays. This includes Scottish haggis+, Jewish chopped liver+, Southern U.S. chitlins+, Mexican menudo+ as well as many other dishes. Intestines are traditionally used as casing for sausage+s.

Depending on the context, offal may refer to those parts of an animal carcass discarded after butcher+ing or skinning+; it may also refer to the by-products of milled grain+s, such as corn or wheat. Offal not used directly for human or animal food is often processed in a rendering+ plant, producing material that is used for fertilizer+ or fuel+; or in some cases, it may be added to commercially produced pet food+.

In earlier times, mobs sometimes threw offal and other rubbish at condemned criminals as a show of public disapproval:

The word shares its etymology with several Germanic words: ''Abfall'' (''offall'' in some Western German dialects), ''afval'' in Dutch and Afrikaans+, ''avfall'' in Norwegian and Swedish, and ''affald'' in Danish. These Germanic words all mean "garbage", or —literally— "off-fall", referring to that which has fallen off during butchering. However, these words are not often used to refer to food with the exception of Afrikaans in the agglutination+ ''afvalvleis'' (lit. "off-fall-meat") which does indeed mean offal. For instance, the German word for offal is ''Innereien'' meaning innards. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word entered Middle English from Middle Dutch in the form afval, derived from af (off) and vallen (fall).

In medieval+ times, "Humble pie+" (originally, "Umble pie") made from animal innards (especially deer) was a peasant food+ and is the source of the commonly used idiom+ "eating humble pie", although it has lost its original meaning as meat pies made from offal are no longer referred to by this name. The traditional Scottish haggis+ consists of sheep stomach stuffed with a boiled mix of liver, heart, lungs, rolled oats and other ingredients. In the English Midlands and South Wales, faggot+s are made from ground or minced pig offal (mainly liver and cheek), bread, herbs and onion wrapped in pig's caul fat+.

Only two offal based dishes are still routinely served nationwide at home and in restaurants and are available as pre-cooked package meals in supermarket chains: Steak and kidney pie+ (typically featuring veal or beef kidneys) is still widely known and enjoyed in Britain and Ireland as is liver (of lamb, calf, pig or cow) and onions served in a rich sauce (gravy).

Brawn+ is a British English+ term for ‘head cheese+’, or the collection of meat and tissue found on an animal's skull (typically a pig) that is cooked, chilled and set in gelatin+. Another British and Irish food is black pudding+, consisting of congealed pig's blood with oatmeal made into sausage-like links with pig intestine as a casing, then boiled and is usually fried on preparation.

''Luncheon Tongue'' refers to reformed pork tongue pieces. ''Ox Tongue'' made from pressed complete tongue, is more expensive. Both kinds of tongue are found in tinned form and in slices in supermarkets and local butchers. Home pressing and cooking of tongue has become less common over the last fifty years.

Bleached ''tripe'' was a popular dish in Northern England (especially in South Lancashire) with many specialist tripe shops in industrial areas.
Today, in South Lancashire certain markets (for example in Wigan+) may still sell tripe; but all the specialist tripe shops have now closed.

In Norway+ the ''smalahove+'' is a traditional dish, usually eaten around and before Christmas+ time, made from a sheep+'s head. The skin and fleece of the head is torched, the brain removed, and the head is salted, sometimes smoked, and dried. The head is boiled+ for about 3 hours and served with mashed ''rutabaga+''/swede and potato+es. The ear and eye (one half of a head is one serving) are normally eaten first, as they are the fattiest area and must be eaten warm. The head is often eaten from the front to the back, working around the bones of the skull. Smalahove is considered by some to be unappealing or even repulsive. It is mostly enjoyed by enthusiasts, and is often served to tourist+s and more adventurous visitors.

Other Norwegian specialities include ''smalaføtter+'', which is a traditional dish similar to ''smalahove'', but instead of a sheep's head it is made of lamb's feet. ''Syltelabb+'' is boiled, salt-cured pig's trotter, and is known as a Christmas delicacy for enthusiasts. Syltelabb is usually sold cooked and salted.

In Denmark+ a version of liver pâté+, known as "''leverpostej+''" in Danish, used as a spread (often in an open sandwich+ on rye bread+) is considered a popular dish. The most common main ingredients of ''leverpostej'' are pork liver, lard+ and anchovies+, but numerous alternative recipes exist. The 5.5 million Danes consume roughly 14,000 tons of ''leverpostej'' per year, the most popular commercial brand being Stryhn's+. Versions of brawn+ (often served on rye bread as an open sandwich with garnish of cucumber slices or dijon mustard+ and pickled beetroot+) and blood sausage+ (served pan-fried with muscovado+) are eaten mainly during wintertime, e.g. as part of the traditional Danish Christmas lunch or "''julefrokost+''".
Heart is commonly eaten, either calf, cow or pork. Grydestegte Hjerter is a sundae-dish of stuffed porkheart, served with carrots, brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes.

Iceland+ has its own version of both haggis+ and brawn+. The Icelandic haggis called "''slátur''" (slaughter) is made in two versions: "''Blóðmör''" (bloodlard), a sheep's stomach stuffed with a mixture of sheep's blood, rolled oats and cut up bits of sheep's fat, and "''lifrarpylsa''" (liver sausage+), which consists of sheep stomach stuffed with a mixture of ground lamb's liver, rolled oats and cut-up bits of mutton+. The Icelandic brawn "''Svið+''" is made from singed sheep heads, and it is eaten either hot or cold off the bone or set in gelatin.

Sweden+ has a version of the British black pudding+ called "''blodpudding''" (blood pudding) and the Dutch also have their version of black pudding, called "''bloedworst''" (bloodsausage). The Scottish haggis+ is called "''pölsa''" or "''lungmos''" (mashed lung). The Swedish "''pölsa''" is made of some offal like liver+ or heart+, onions, rolled barley+ and spices and is served with boiled potatoes, fried eggs and sliced beetroot+. "''Blodpudding''" is mostly served sliced and fried with lingonberry+ preserve, grated carrot and fried bacon. Other popular offal dishes are "''levergryta''" (liver stew) "''leverpastej''" (liver pâté).

Finland+ also has its own version of black pudding, ''mustamakkara+'' (black sausage). There is also liver sausage, usually eaten as a spread on bread, similarly to the Danish ''leverpostej''. Liver is also eaten in various other forms including fried slices and minced liver patties. Liver casserole+, traditionally made with minced liver, rice, butter, onions, egg, syrup and usually raisins, used to be mainly a Christmas dish, but is now available and eaten all year round. There are also many traditional and modern game+ recipes that use offal.

In France, the city of Lyon+ is well known for its offal: andouillette+, tablier de sapeur (breaded tripe+), foie de veau, rognons à la crème, tripes...
In Marseille+, lamb's trotters and a package of lamb tripe+ are a traditional food under the name "''pieds et paquets+''". In France, chitterlings sausage is regarded as a delicacy called ''andouillette''.

Especially in southern Germany+, some offal varieties are served in regional cuisine. The Bavarian expression ''Kronfleischküche '' includes skirt steak+ and offal as well, e.g. Milzwurst, a sausage containing small pieces of spleen+, and even dishes based on udder+. Swabia is famous for ''Saure Kutteln''—sour tripes, served steaming hot with fried potatoes. ''Herzgulasch'' is a (formerly cheaper) type of goulash+ using heart. Liver is part of various recipes, such as some sorts of Knödel+ and Spätzle+, and in Liverwurst+. As a main dish, together with cooked sliced apple and onion rings, liver (''Leber Berliner Art'', liver Berlin+ style) is a famous recipe from the German capital. Helmut Kohl+'s preference for Saumagen+ was a challenge to various political visitors during his terms as German Chancellor. ''Markklößchen'' are small dumplings made with bone marrow; they are served as part of ''Hochzeitssuppe+'' (wedding soup), a soup served at marriages in some German regions. In Bavaria, lung stew is served with Knödel+, dumplings. Blood tongue+ or Zungenwurst, is a variety of German head cheese with blood. It is a large head cheese that is made with pig's blood, suet, bread crumbs and oatmeal with chunks of pickled beef tongue added. It has a slight resemblance to blood sausage. It is commonly sliced and browned in butter or bacon fat prior to consumption. It is sold in markets pre-cooked and its appearance is maroon to black in color.

In the Austrian, particularly Viennese cuisine+, the ''Beuschel'' is a traditional offal dish. It is a sort of ragout+ containing veal lungs and heart. It is usually served in a sour cream sauce and with bread dumplings (Semmelknödel+).

In Belgium+ several classic dishes include organ meat. Beef or veal tongue in tomato-Madeira+ sauce with mushrooms and kidneys in mustard cream sauce are probably the most famous ones. The famous "stoofvlees" or carbonade flamande+, a beef stew with onions and brown beer, used to contain pieces of liver or kidney, to reduce the costs. Pork tongues are also eaten cold with bread and a vinaigrette with raw onions or some mustard.

In Italy+ consumption of entrails and internal organs is widespread. Among the most popular are fried or stewed brains; boiled stomach (trippa+), often served in a tomato sauce; lampredotto+ (the fourth stomach of the cow), boiled in broth and seasoned with parsley sauce and chili; liver (stir-fried with onions, roasted); kidneys; heart and coronaries (coratella+ or animelle+); head, eyes, and testicles of pig; and several preparations based on chicken entrails. Pajata, a traditional dish from Rome, refers to the intestines of an unweaned calf, i.e., fed only on its mother's milk. Soon after nursing, the calf is slaughtered, and its intestines are cleaned, but the milk is left inside. When cooked, the combination of heat and the enzyme rennet+ in the intestines coagulates the milk to create a thick, creamy, cheese-like sauce. Pajata and tomatoes are often used to prepare a sauce for rigatoni+. In Sicily, many enjoy a sandwich called "pani ca meusa", bread with spleen and caciocavallo+ cheese. In the Italian neighborhoods of Brooklyn, New York, where it is also commonly eaten, it goes by the name 'vastedda', which in Sicilian refers to the bread only. In Norcia+ and other parts of Umbria+, pig's bowels are also cured with herbs, chili peppers, and spices, then dried and smoked to make a tough, spicy sausage in which the bowel, instead of serving only as the usual casing, is the main ingredient.

In Spain+, the visceral organs are used in many traditional dishes, but the use of some of them is falling out of favor with the younger generations. Some traditional dishes are ''callos'' (cow tripe, very traditional in Madrid+ and Asturias+), liver (often prepared with onion or with garlic and parsley, and also as breaded steaks), kidneys (often prepared with sherry+ or grilled), sheep's brains, ''criadillas'' (bull testicles), braised cow's tongue, pig's head and feet (in Catalonia; pig's feet are also traditionally eaten with snails), pork brains (part of the traditional 'tortilla sacromonte' in Granada), and pig's ears (mostly in Galicia+). There are also many varieties of blood sausage (''morcilla''), with various textures and flavours ranging from mild to very spicy. Some of the strongest are as hard in texture as chorizo+ or salami+, while others are soft, and some types incorporate rice+, giving the stuffing a haggis-like appearance. ''Morcillas'' are added to soups or boiled on their own, in which case the cooking liquid is discarded. They are sometimes grilled but rarely fried. Also coagulated, boiled blood is a typical dish in Valencia+ (cut into cubes and often prepared with onion and/or tomato sauce).

In Portugal+ traditionally, viscera and other animal parts are used in many dishes. Trotters (also known as ''chispe''), tripe, and pig's ears are cooked in bean broths. The cow's brain (''mioleira'') is also a delicacy, although consumption has decreased since the Creutzfeld-Jakob+ outbreak. The blood of the pig is used to produce a form of black pudding known as ''farinhato'', which includes flour and seasonings. Chicken feet are also used in soups.

In Greece+ (and similarly in Turkey+, Albania+ and the Republic of Macedonia+), ''splinantero'' consists of liver, spleen, and small intestine, roasted over an open fire. A festive variety is ''kokoretsi+'' (from Turkish ''kokoreç'', Macedonian ''kukurek''), traditional for Easter+; pieces of lamb offal (liver, heart, lungs, spleen, kidney and fat) are pierced on a spit and covered by washed small intestine wound around in a tube-like fashion, then roasted over a coal fire. Another traditional Easter food is ''magiritsa+'', a soup made with lamb offal and lettuce in a white sauce, eaten at midnight on Easter Sunday+ as an end to the lent+en fast+. ''Tzigerosarmas'' (from Turkish ''ciğer sarması'', meaning "liver wrap") and ''gardoumba'' are two varieties of ''splinantero'' and ''kokoretsi'' made in different sizes and with extra spices.

There is also a twofold variation on the concept of head cheese: ''piftie+'' which does contain gelatin, is served cold and is usually only made from pork or beef (traditionally only pork), but does not contain as much head material (usually only the lower legs and ears are used since they contain large amounts of gelatin) and ''pacele'' which is exclusively made of meat and tissue found on the head (save for the eyes and usually only made from lamb; addition of brain and tongue varies by local habit). ''Pacele'' is made by first boiling the head whole (to soften the meat and make it easier to peel off) and then peeling/scraping off all meat and tissue from it. A generous amount of garlic or garlic juice, the ''mujdei+'', is then added and the dish is served warm.

Finally, there are many dishes in Romania that are based on whole offal, such as: grilled pig and cow kidney (served with boiled or steam cooked vegetables—usually peas and carrot slices); butcher's brain called ''creier pane+'' (usually lamb's brains, rolled in batter and deep-fried); tongue and olives stew (mostly done with cow tongue) and many others.

The Armenian+ traditional dish known as ''khash+'' is a traditional meal with inexpensive ingredients, originating in the Shirak region. The main ingredient in khash is pig's or cow's feet, although other animal parts, such as the ears and tripe, may also be used. Formerly a nutritious winter food for the poor, it is now considered a delicacy, and is enjoyed as a festive winter meal.

In Hungary+, a variety of traditional dishes are based on offal. A popular spicy stew, considered a national dish, is made from beef tripe. Ground or chopped pork offal is usually made into a hearty sausage known as "''disznósajt''" (lit. "pork cheese") somewhat resembling haggis. Stews and puddings made with blood (poultry, pork or beef) are also quite common. While decreasing in popularity, stews made from poultry testicles+ are still considered a delicacy and a dish of high prestige in the countryside.

Offal is not an uncommon ingredient in Polish cuisine+. ''Kaszanka+'', a traditional sausage similar to black pudding+, is made with a mixture of pig's blood, pig offal and buckwheat or barley usually served fried with onions or grilled. Beef tripe is used to cook a soup simply called ''flaki+'' (pl.+ ''guts''). Chicken gizzard+s can be a base for various soups, such as ''krupnik+'', a pearl barley+ soup (not to be confused with a vodka of the same name). Pork, beef or veal kidneys, known in Polish as ''cynadry'', are typically braised and eaten as a main dish. Pork tongues can be served hot, in a sauce, or cold, set into aspic+.

In Russia+, beef liver and tongue are considered valuable delicacies, which may be cooked and served on their own. Kidneys and brains are sometimes used in cooking. The heart is often eaten on its own or used as an additive to the ground meat, as do lungs which give a lighter, airier texture to it. Pig's or sheep's stomach is sometimes used for ''nyanya+'', a dish similar to haggis. Head and collagen-rich extremities are used to make ''kholodets''—a version of aspic, whereby these body parts are slowly boiled for several hours with meat and spices, removed and discarded, and the remaining broth is cooled until it congeals.

In Brazil+, ''churrasco+'' (barbecue) often includes chicken+heart+s, roasted on a big skewer. The typical ''feijoada+'' sometimes contains pork trimmings (ears, feet and tail). Gizzard stews, fried beef liver and beef stomach stews used to be more popular dishes in the past, but are nonetheless still consumed. ''Buchada'', a popular dish from the northeast of the country, consists of the diced organs of a goat, which are seasoned and then sewn inside the goat's stomach and boiled.

In Argentina+, Chile+ and Uruguay+, the traditional ''asado+'' is often made along with several offal types (called "''achuras''"), like ''chunchules", "chunchulines'' and ''tripa gorda'' (chitterlings+), ''mollejas'' (sweetbreads) and ''riñón'' (cow's kidney+). ''Sesos'' (brains) are used to make ravioli+ stuffing. The tongue is usually boiled, sliced and marinated with a mixture of oil, vinegar, salt, chopped peppers and garlic. In Chile, the tongue is boiled, sliced and served in a walnut-based sauce in New year and Xmas festivities ("lengua nogada") while the soup is used later to cook a wheat, milk and spice ball mix called "albóndigas de sémola". There is also a blood drink called "Ñachi", made from spiced, fresh blood from a recently slaughtered animal. ''Criadillas'' or ''huevos de toro'' ("bull's eggs", testicles) are eaten mostly in cattle-raising regions, while cow udder ("ubres") is served fried or boiled.

Sausage is made from the small intestine of a goat, cow or sheep, stuffed with chilli and small chunks of meat, fatty meat, and blood (although some people prefer the bloodless kind). In Kenya+ it is commonly referred to as 'mutura' which is the Kikuyu+ name for it. Sheep's or goat's stomach is also stuffed in a similar way.

In the Kikuyu+ traditions, grilled goat/sheep kidneys are a delicacy usually reserved for young ladies, although today, anybody can consume it. Similarly, the tongue was reserved for men and the ears were to be eaten by little girls. The testicles were for the young men.
Liver is also consumed. The heads, lungs and hooves of animals are boiled to make soup and sometimes mixed with herbs for medicinal purposes.

In South Africa+ offal is enjoyed by South Africans of diverse backgrounds. Due to the popularity of this dish, it is one of the few customs that white (especially Afrikaners) and black South Africans share.

Offal dishes in South Africa do not usually consist of any organs and are mostly limited to stomach skin, sheep's head, shin and very rarely brains. Sheep's head has gained many nicknames over the years such as 'skopo' (township colloquial term meaning head) and 'smiley' (referring to the expression of the head when cooked).

There are numerous recipes to cook the above-mentioned items available on many South African websites. One of the more popular way to cook offal in South Africa is to cook it with small potatoes in a curry sauce served on rice. Alternatively it can served with samp or maize rice.

In Zimbabwe+ offal is a common relish enjoyed by people of all cultures. Cow offal dishes include stomach, hooves, shin, intestines, liver, head, tongue and very rarely in certain communities, testicles. Chicken dishes include feet, liver, intestines and gizzards. A popular preparation of goat or sheep offals involves wrapping pieces of the stomach with the intestines before cooking.

In China+, many organs and animal-parts are used for food or traditional Chinese medicine+. Since pork is the most consumed meat in China, popular pork offal dishes include stir-fried pork kidneys with oyster sauce+, ginger and scallions, "五更肠旺—Wu Geng Chang Wang" a spicy stew with preserved mustard, tofu+, pork intestine slices and congealed pork blood cubes. "炸肥肠—Zha Fei Chang," deep fried pork intestine slices and dipped in a sweet bean sauce+ is commonly offered by street hawkers. Pork tongue slices with salt and sesame oil is also a popular dish, especially in Sichuan province. Braised pork ear strips in soy sauce, five-spice powder+ and sugar is a common "cold plate" appetizer available as hawker food or in major local supermarkets. Stir-fried pork kidneys and/or liver slices with oyster sauce, ginger and scallions or in soups is a regular dish in southern provinces. Pork blood soup+ is at least 1,000 years old since the Northern Song Dynasty+, when the quintessential Chinese restaurant and eateries became popular. Pork blood soup and dumplings, jiaozi+, were recorded as food for night labourers in Kaifeng. In Shanghai cuisine+, the soup has evolved into the well-known “酸辣湯—Suan La Tang”, Hot and Sour Soup, with various additional ingredients. As well as pork, the offal of other animals is used in traditional Chinese cooking, most commonly cattle, duck, and chicken.

Offal dishes are particularly popular in the southern region of Guangdong+ and its culinary capital of Hong Kong+. For example, Cantonese+ “燒味—''Siu mei+''”, (Barbecue Delicacies) shops, have achieved their foundation of influence here. Besides the popular ''cha siu+'' barbecued pork, "siu yuk+" crispy skin pork, along with assorted types of poultry, there are also the roasted chicken liver with honey, and the very traditional, and very expensive now, “金錢雞—Gum Chin Gai”, another honey roasted dimsum that is a sandwich of a piece each of pork fat, pork/chicken liver, ginger and cha siu.

The use of offal in dim sum+ does not stop there. In dim sum restaurants, the feet of chicken, ducks and pork are offered in various cooking styles. For example, the pork feet in sweet vinegar stew is a popular bowl now besides its traditional function as supplement for postpartum+ mother care. Young ginger stems, boiled eggs, and blanched pork feet are stew in sweet black rice vinegar for a few hours to make this “豬腳薑—Jui Kerk Gieng”. “鴨腳紮—Ap Kerk Jat” is a piece each of ham, shiitake mushroom+ and deep fried fish maw+ wrapped with duck feet in a dried bean curd sheet in and steamed. The use of fish offal in Cantonese cuisine+ is not limited to the maw. For example, there is the folksy dish of “東江魚雲煲—Tung Gong Yu Wan Bo”, a casserole with the lips of fresh water large head fish; and shark fin soup+.

In the more pragmatic folksy eateries, however, maximum utilization of the food resource is the traditional wisdom. The fish is completely made used and nothing is wasted. Deep fried fish skin is a popular side dish at fish ball+ noodle shops. The intestines are steamed with egg and other ingredients in Hakka cuisine+. Finally, the bones are wrapped in a cotton bag to boil in the soup for noodles.

Teochew cuisine+ shows its best manifestation also in Hong Kong. The goose meat, liver, blood, intestine, feet, neck and tongue are all major ingredients to various dishes. There is also the must-try soup, pork stomach with whole pepper corns and pickled mustard.

The use of beef organs is classically represented in noodle shops here. Each respectable operation has its own recipe for preparing the stews of brisket+, intestine, lung, and varieties of tripe. The big pots are often placed facing the street and next to the entrance such that the mouth-watering aroma is the best draw for the shop′s business.

Contrary to a common Westerners' disgust for these dishes due to cultural unfamiliarity and sanitary concerns, these offal items are very well cleaned. The pork intestines' tough inner skin (which is exposed to bolus+ and pre-fecal+ materials) is completely removed. Then, the intestine is exhaustively soaked, cleaned and rinsed. The nephrons+ of pork kidneys are skilfully excised, and the kidneys are soaked for several hours and cleaned.

The use of the pancreas+, liver+, kidney+, gall bladder+, lung and even bronchus of various farm animals together with herbs in Chinese medicine+ have strong empirical theories and studies are being conducted to try to understand their nature in modern scientific terms. However, there are other strange offal usages in folk practice. Taoist and rural folk beliefs have their influence. The idea of essences and energy, heat and cold, are key. Snake wine with a live snake gallbladder is thought to promote stamina due to the "essences of energy and heat", which is derived from a snake's attributes, such as aggressive behavior (fiery) and venom (energy). When bears were more common in the Chinese northeast, bears claw and dried bear offal were used as medicines, seen as a source of vitality. Dry deer antlers are still a common medicine, thought to provide "yang energy" to complement the male sex and the tail, "yin energy" for the female sex. Extractions of animal penises+ and testes are still believed to contribute to better male performance and those of the embryo and uterus to the eternal youth of the female. However, these are being marginalized as synthetic hormones get more popular and affordable.

The Cantonese consumed monkey brains, but this is now rare to non-existent, and primarily offered to rich, Western tourists.

In Japan+ chicken offal is often skewered and grilled over charcoal as ''yakitori+'', to be served alongside drinks in an ''izakaya+'', a Japanese food-pub. Offal originating from cattle is also an ingredient in certain dishes (see ''yakiniku+''). However, traditional Japanese culture mostly disdains offal use from large animals due to the lack of a long tradition of meat-eating, since Buddhist Japan was a largely vegetarian+ nation (except for the consumption of fish and seafood) prior to the late 19th century. During the Sino-Japanese War+, Japanese troops took pigs from Chinese farmers and slaughtered the animals only for the major muscles (no head, feet and fully disemboweled). This has changed in recent times, and restaurants specializing in offal (particularly beef offal), often Korean-style, are quite common, serving a wide variety of offal cuts (e.g.,

In Korea+, offal usage is very similar to mainland China but less frequent. Grilled intestine slices and pork blood are both consumed. Headcheese prepared with pork head meat was quite popular in the past. Steamed pork intestines are easy to be found in traditional markets. The popular traditional Korean sausage called sundae+ is steamed pork small intestines filled with pork blood, seasoned noodles, and vegetables. Pork feet steamed in a special stock are considered delicacy in Korea. Beef stomach and intestines are still quite popular for cooking. It is not difficult to find grilled chicken hearts, gizzards, and feet in traditional street bars. Medicinal usages are also similar to mainland China and less common with offal uses.

In Indonesia+ cow and goat+ internal organs are popular delicacies, it can be fried, made into soto+ soups or grilled as satay+ and almost all of the parts of the animal are eaten. ''Soto Betawi'' is known as the type of soto that uses various kinds of offals, while ''soto babat'' only uses tripes. Within Indonesian cuisine+ traditions, the Minangkabau cuisine+ (popularly known as "Padang food") are known for their fondnesss of offals, mostly are made into ''gulai+'' (a type of curry) such as ''gulai otak'' (brain), ''gulai babat'' (tripes), ''gulai usus'' (intestine), ''gulai sumsum'' (bone marrow), also fried ''hati'' (liver) and ''limpa'' (spleen). The cartilage, skin and tendon parts of cow legs is also uses as dishes called ''tunjang'', ''kaki sapi'' or ''kikil'' also can be made as gulai or soto. Cow+'s stomach (''babat'') and intestine (''iso'') are popular, fried or in soup, in Javanese cuisine+. Cow's lung, called ''paru+'', coated with spices (turmeric and coriander) and fried is often eaten as a snack or side dish. Liver is also sometimes made into a spicy dish called rendang+. Cow or goat tongue is sliced and fried, sometimes in a spicy sauce, or more often beef tongue+ are cooked as semur+ stew. Brain is sometimes consumed as soto or gulai. Cows and goat testicle+s popularly called ''torpedo'' are also consumed as satay or soto. Due to its rarity the testicles are among the most expensive offals in Indonesia.

Avian offals are commonly consumed too. Giblets+, liver and intestines of chicken, duck and ''burung ayam-ayaman'' (watercock+) are consumed as delicacies, commonly skewered as satay and being deep fried. Deep fried crispy chicken intestine in particular is a popular snack.

In Malaysia+, cow or goat lung, called ''paru'', coated in turmeric and fried is often served as a side dish to rice, especially in the ever popular nasi lemak+. Tripe is used in a few dishes either stir fried or in a gravy. Tripe is also consumed as satay+. Liver is deep fried or stir fried in some vegetable dishes.

In Singapore+, pig's organ soup+ is a common feature of hawker centre+s. Due to Singapore's proximity and ethnic makeup, many of the items written for Indonesia and Malaysia above are also found in Singapore.

In the Philippines+, people eat practically every part of the pig, including snout, intestines, ears, and innards. ''Dinuguan+'' is a particular type of blood-stew (depending on region) made using pig intestines, pork meat and sometimes ears and cheeks usually with a vinegar base, and green chili peppers. ''Bopis'' (bópiz in Spanish) is a spicy Filipino dish made out of pork lungs and heart sautéed in tomatoes, chilies and onions. ''Isaw+'' is another treat enjoyed mostly in the Philippines+ which is a kebab made with pig's (also chicken) intestine pieces barbecued and dipped in vinegar before eating. Crispy ''Pata+'' is popular, consisting of pig's feet that have been boiled until tender, cut into pieces, and then deep fried.

''Papaitan'' is a soup made from cow, carabao+ or goat tripe and innards. The broth is flavored with the animal's bile and the fruit of the Averrhoa bilimbi+.

In Thai cuisine+, offal is used in many dishes. The well-known ''lap+'' made with minced pork, which often features on menus in the West, will in Thailand often also contain some liver and/or intestines. Deep-fried intestines, known as ''sai mu thot'', are eaten with a spicy dipping sauce. Some other dishes which contain offal are the Thai-Chinese soup called ''kuaichap'' (intestines, liver) and the Northern Thai ''aep ong-o'' (pig brains). ''Tai pla+'' is a salty sauce of Southern Thai+ cuisine made from the fermented innards of the short-bodied mackerel+ It is used in dishes such as ''kaeng tai pla+'' and ''nam phrik+ tai pla''.

In Vietnam+, food made of internal organs is popular. Some dishes like ''Cháo lòng+'', ''Tiết canh+'' use pig's internal organs as main ingredients. ''Cỗ lòng+'', a suite of boiled internal of pigs is a delicacy. ''Bún bò Huế+'' is a noodle soup made with oxtail+ and pigs' knuckles, often made including cubes of congealed pigs' blood. Beef tendon+ and beef tripe+ is used in southern Vietnamese versions of ''Pho+''.

In India+ and Pakistan+, the goat's brain (''maghaz+''), feet (''paey+''), head (''siri+''), stomach (''ojhari'' or ''but''), tongue (''zabaan''), liver (''kalayji+''), kidney (''gurda''), udder (''kheeri'') and testicles (''kapooray'') as well as chickens' heart and liver are enjoyed. One popular dish, ''Kata-Kat+'', is a combination of spices, brains, liver, kidneys and other organs. Beef offal is relished with the above-mentioned parts regularly used in food, especially fried delicacies.

In the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, lamb and goat brain sauted and stir fried with spices (often called ''bheja fry'') is a delicacy. In the southern Indian city of Mangalore+, a spicy dish called ''rakti+'', made of heavily spice+d porcine offal and cartilaginous+ tissue, is considered a homely indulgence by the local Christian+ community (observant Muslim+s avoid pork products, and Hindu+s consider the cow as a religious omen and do not eat beef. Some Hindus follow a vegetarian diet.

In Nepal+, a goat's brain (''gidi''), feet (''khutta''), head (''tauko''), stomach skin (''bhudri''), tongue (''jibro''), liver (''kalejo''), kidney, lungs (''phokso''), fried intestines (''aandra''), fried solidified blood (''ragat'') and to a lesser extent testicles are considered delicacies and are in very high demand in Dashain+ when families congregate and enjoy them with whiskey and beer. Chickens' heart and liver are also enjoyed but it is chickens' gizzards that are truly prized. Buffalo leaf tripe stuffed with bone marrow (''sapu mhichā+''), stuffed goat lung (''swan pukā+'') and fried variety meats (''pukālā+'') are delicacies in the Kathmandu Valley.

In Lebanon+, lamb brain is used in ''nikhaat+'' dishes and sometimes as a sandwich+ filling. A tradition practiced less often today would be to eat fish eyes either raw, boiled, or fried. Another popular dish in the region surrounding is ''korouch+'' which is rice-stuffed sheep intestine.

In Iran+, tongue (''zabaan''), feet (''paa'') or Kaleh Pacheh+, sheep liver (''jigar''), heart (''qalb''), lungs (''shosh''), testicles (''dombalan'') and kidneys are used as certain types of ''kebab+'' and have a high popularity among people, as well as sheep intestines and stomach, though the latter is boiled. Sheep skull and tongue, alongside knee joints, as a formal breakfast dish called ''kale pache'' (lit. "head and leg"), are boiled in water with beans and eaten with traditional bread.

'''Pacha''' (Persian term), is a traditional Iraqi+ dish made from sheep's head, trotters and stomach; all boiled slowly and served with bread sunken in the broth. The cheeks and tongues are considered the best parts. Many people prefer not to eat the eyeballs which could be removed before cooking. The stomach lining would be filled with rice and lamb and stitched with a sewing thread ().

In Egypt+, fried beef and lamb liver (''kibda'') with a cumin-based coating is a popular dish, most often served in sandwiches with a bit of onion from small shops in most major cities. Thin-sliced fried liver with slices of mild peppers, garlic and lemon is considered a specialty of Alexandria+ (as كبدة سكندراني ''Kibda Skandarani'', "Alexandrian liver"), and is often served as a separate plate, sandwiches or as a topping for kushari+.

Although the term ''offal'' is used in the United Kingdom and Canada, in the United States the terms ''variety meats'' or ''organ meats'' are used instead. The consumption of organ meats is relatively uncommon in U.S. culture, although some regional cuisines make extensive use of them. The derisive term "mystery meat+" is often used to describe offal which have been ground or otherwise heavily processed in order to obscure its origin.

Offal dishes from many other cultures exist but the appeal is usually limited to the immigrant communities that introduced the dish. For example, chopped liver+, lungen stew, and beef tongue (especially as used by Kosher deli+s) in American Jewish culture, or ''menudo+'' in Mexican-American culture.

In some Latin American countries, such as Mexico+, almost all internal parts and organs are consumed regularly. Chicken hearts, gizzards and livers are usually eaten fried or boiled, either alone, or in broth+. Brainstem+ is served as soup, ''sopa de médula''.

Several types of offal are commonly used in tacos+, including:
*''tacos de lengua'': boiled beef tongue+
*''tacos de sesos'': beef brain+
*''tacos de cabeza'': every part of the cow's head, including lips, cheeks, eyes, etc.
*''tacos de ojo'': cow's eyes
*''tacos de chicharrón'': fried pork rinds (chicharrón+), a common snack food item
*''tacos de tripas'': beef tripe (tripas+)

Tripe+ is also used to make ''pancita'' and ''menudo+''. The ''montalayo'' is dish made of chopped organs, spiced with ''adobo+'', and cooked inside of the sheep stomach. This is known as ''menudo de birria'' in the Pacific states and is made with goat parts instead of sheep.

Pork brains are considered a delicacy and are eaten in the deep fried ''quesadilla de sesos''. Beef and pork liver are regularly eaten pan-fried with onion or breaded and deep-fried. The pork ears, feet and snout are pickled and eaten in tostadas.

Sheep's or goat's head are eaten as part of the barbacoa+, a dish originating with the Taino people+. Cow cod soup+ is a traditional Jamaican dish made with bull penis+. Morcilla+ (blood sausage), Chicharrón+ (fried pork rinds), and other pork offal are commonly served in a Puerto Rican Cuchifrito+. ''Sopa de mondongo+'', made with tripe, is common in the Caribbean and throughout Latin America. ''Gandinga'' is a hearty stew, well known in Cuba and Puerto Rico, prepared from the heart, liver, kidneys, and esophageal tissue of either pork (''gandinga de cerdo'') or beef (''gandinga de res'').

In Australia offal is consumed in some ethnic dishes.
Food standards require that products containing offal be labeled as such. The presence of brain, heart, kidney, liver, tongue or tripe must be declared either by specific type or more generally as offal. Other offal, such as blood, pancreas, spleen and thymus must be declared by name.

The offal of certain animals is unsafe to consume:

* The internal organs of the fugu+pufferfish+ are highly toxic—in Japan, fugu can only be prepared by trained master chefs, working under extremely strict regulations, sanitary conditions, and licensing. Even a residual portion of fugu toxin can be fatal.
* The liver of the polar bear+ is unsafe to eat because it is very high in vitamin A+ and can cause hypervitaminosis A+, a dangerous disorder. This has been recognized since at least 1597 when Gerrit de Veer+ wrote in his diary that, while taking refuge in the winter in Nova Zemlya+, he and his men became gravely ill after eating polar-bear liver. Seal liver is similarly toxic, as is dog liver.
* Some animal intestines are very high in coliform+bacteria+ and need to be washed and cooked thoroughly to be safe for eating.
* Nervous system tissue can be contaminated with TSE+prions+, which cause bovine spongiform encephalopathy+ (BSE, "mad cow disease"); in some jurisdictions these offal are classified as specified risk materials+ and are subject to special regulations.
* Offal very high in purine+s can precipitate an acute attack of gout+ in someone with the condition.
* Certain types of offal, including kidneys, stomach, intestines, heart, tongue, and liver, can be very high in cholesterol and saturated fats.
* The practice of feeding raw offal to dogs on farms and ranches can spread echinococcosis+, a potentially fatal parasitic disease of animals, including humans.